Bill > H7896

This bill, effective January 1, 2027, requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or the Department of Health to create policies allowing students diagnosed with asthma, a condition that can cause bronchospasm (sudden tightening of airways) or anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction), to carry and use their own asthma medication or auto-injectable or intranasal epinephrine (a medication to counteract anaphylaxis). These policies will outline necessary parental consent and doctor's notes, including details about the medication, dosage, and when it should be used, such as before exercise. The bill also mandates that schools stock emergency medications like epinephrine, glucagon (to treat low blood sugar), and rescue inhalers, which can be administered by trained school personnel, including teachers, administrators, nurses, bus drivers, and monitors, if a student is believed to be in need. Importantly, this legislation provides immunity from civil lawsuits for school personnel for ordinary negligence when administering these emergency medications, though this protection does not extend to gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Education

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